London is the top destination in the UK, Europe and the entire world. With a major international airport, many travelers pass through London on their way to other places. For traveling who want to see more of England, consider a day trip from London. Whether by taking the train or by renting a car, the best Day Trips from London are just a couple of hours away. Travelers will find stunning gardens, more UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a pub or two. Here are the Best Day Trips from London.
9 Day Trips from London
Bath
Blenheim Palace
Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Hidcote Gardens
Kew Gardens
Oxford
Stonehenge
Stratford-on-Avon
Windsor Castle
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Bath
The largest city in Somerset, Bath, is known for its Roman-built baths, constructed in 60 AD. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of the top things to do is tour the Roman Bath, including its outdoor pool, surrounded by columns and Roman architecture. Next to the baths is the Pump Room, a Georgian restaurant that hosted both Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
The Georgian architecture abounds in Bath, including the Royal Crescent and the Circus, both curving housing buildings. A walking tour is one of the best ways to see it. Pulteney Bridge is another must.
Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century. In 2025, it’s her 250th birthday. There is a Jane Austen Center, dedicated to the author and her works.
Bath is located about 115 miles (185 km) from central London.
Blenheim Palace
As the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace is one of the largest homes in the UK. Built between 1705 and 1722, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the Best Day Trips from London.
Named after the Battle of Blenheim, it was a reward for John Churchill, the First Duke of Marlborough. It is built in the English Baroque style and originally designed by Sir John Vanburgh; however, political infighting, cost overruns and a temporary exile led to its extended construction time.
Generational mismanagement led to a partial liquidation of the massive estate. The 9th Duke of Marlborough married the heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. He used her money to bring the palace back to grandeur.
Blenheim Palace is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and he spent much time there throughout his life. However, he was not the heir of the palace. Visitors can learn more about his life in the Churchill Exhibit, including his birthroom.
Places to See at Blenheim
In many ways, Blenheim Palace is grander than many of the Royal castles. The State Rooms are gilded, with family portraits hanging on the walls.
The grounds are grand, with a Grand Bridge crossing the lake, a Great Park and its Flagstaff Gate. Closer to the house, the majestic Water Terraces, the Duke’s Private Italian Garden, the Churchill Memorial Garden and the beautifully delicate Rose Garden are all stunning.
For Harry Potter fans, it is home to the Harry Potter tree from the Order of the Phoenix . I recommend you allow time to explore the property. It is also featured in Bridgerton , Season 3, The Diplomat , Napoleon , Cinderella and James Bond: Spectre , just to name a few.
Just for kids, Blenheim Palace Adventure Play is a destination in the corner of the estate, accessible by a miniature train. There’s where visitors will find the extensive playground, a Butterfly House, and the Marlborough Maze (made of hedges). During the year, it offers many events, so check the calendar.
Located at Blenheim Park, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1UL. Open 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (The Park open at 9, the cafe opens at 9:30). Adult admission is £41, and kids (3 to 16) enter for £24. The drive to the Blenheim Palace from Oxford is about 20 minutes. Blenheim Palace is about 65 miles (104 km) from Central London.
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Bombay Sapphire Distillery
I will not lie, I love a good gin and tonic. I also love Bombay Sapphire Gin and its lovely light blue bottle. I save them and use them across my house for everything from my kitchen dish soap to hanging off my bottle tree.
So when I learned its distillery was about an hour from Oxford, I knew I had to take its Discovery Tour. Located in a historic former paper mill, it is an interesting campus to explore. For adults, it is one of the Best Day Trips from London.
During our tour, we started with signature cocktails and then learned about its proprietary blend of spices and herbs. Then, we learned about the Bombay Vapour Infusion process. It still uses its original Carterhead stills from the 1830s, named Tom and Mary. To keep up with global demand, it also uses two state-of-the-art 12,000-litre copper pot stills named Henry and Victoria.
Then we went through its stunning greenhouses. They are designed to look like water spilling from a bottle. In each, we say living specimens of their spices and herbs, like Moroccan cubeb berries to the West African Grains of Paradise.
The tour ended in its bar, where the mixologists served a menu of Bombay cocktails for an additional fee. There was an indoor bar space and umbrella tables outside to enjoy a cocktail. For gin-loving adults, this is one of the best gin distillery tours in the UK.
Located at Bombay Gin Distillery, Laverstoke Mill, London Rd, Whitchurch RG28 7NR. Adults are £22, kids 13 to 17 are £10, and those 12 and younger enter for free. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are recommended. The drive to the Bombay Gin Distillery from Oxford is about 50 minutes. It is 63 miles (101 km) from Central London.
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Hidcote Gardens
One of the most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in the UK, this is the place to visit if you want to see English Gardens. For garden loves, it is one of the Best Day Trips from London, near Heathrow International Airport.
Anchored by the Hidcote Manor, an expansive farmhouse dating back centuries, the garden took shape in the early 20th century under American Lawrence Johnson, who immigrated to England in 1907.
Divided into rooms, herbaceous hedges break up the space, infilled with perennials like roses and exotic plants, Lawrence sourced from around the world. I visited in July, and the garden was saturated with blooms and fragrance.
The use of hardscaping adds an air of elegance to the space. The pond is actually a Bathing Pool. The Gazebos anchor the Red Border, planted with red-leafed and flowering plants. There is a Great Lawn, a Beech Allee and areas dedicated to a single species, like Hydrangeas and Lilacs. Hidcote Garden is a must for gardeners and plant lovers.
Located at Hidcote Bartrim, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6LR. From mid-March until December 31, the garden is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Adult admission is £19, kids (5 to 7) are £9.50, with those 4 and younger entering for free. Those visiting in November and December enjoy a seasonal discount.
The garden is closed from January 1 until mid-March. There is a cafe, a shop and a small plant nursery. The drive to Hidcote Gardens from Oxford is 45 minutes. It is 103 miles (165 km) from Central London.
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Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens was founded in 1759, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses the most diverse botanical and mycological collection in the world, with 27,000 different species. Kew Gardens conducts important botanical research and education around the world. It is one of the Best Day Trips from London, near Heathrow International Airport.
Started by Lord Capell of Tewkesbury , it now includes about 330 acres that are listed on the UK’s Grade I Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Built in 1761, the Great Pagoda includes 10 stories and towers at 164 feet tall (50 m). The Palm House was built between 1844 and 1848 of wrought iron and was the first large-scale building to use the material.
The Temperate House came after it and it’s the largest Victorian glasshouse still standing. It houses some of the rarest plants in Kew’s collection.
At Kew, visitors will find the Queen Charlotte Cottage from King George III’s reign. There is also the Kew Palace, the smallest of the British royal palaces.
For lovers of garden whimsy, there are several garden follies, like the Temple of Aeolus. Kew features a Folly Trail Map that mirrors the
Kew Gardens features an arboretum with 11,000 trees. The Treetop Walkway allows visitors to walk 59 feet (18 metres) above the ground on an elevated 660 feet (200 metres) walkway.
The Orangery was completed in 1761 and now houses a cafe. If you are short on time, the Kew Explorer Train is a guided tour that covers the majority of the garden. It costs an additional £6.50 for adults.
Where is Kew?
Located at the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adult admission starts at £22, young adults (16 to 24) £10 and kids (5 to 15) are £6, with online reservations. There are several gates through which to enter, like the Victoria Gate, the Elizabeth Gate, the Brentford Gate and the Lion Gate. Limited parking on site, and it is located at Brentford Gate. It is 8 miles (12 km) from Central London.
Oxford
Northwest of London, Oxford’s nickname is the City of Dreaming Spires for its ornate architecture and medieval city center. Anchored by the 12th-century Oxford University, visitors can meander narrow streets and duck into a few of its 33 colleges. It is one of the Best Day Trips from London.
As the oldest University in the English-speaking world, this is a must while in Oxford. It is also one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The first colleges were built in the 13th century, and visitors will see several architectural styles. Some of the colleges are best viewed with an organized tour. I took a guided tour, and the University offers several official tours.
The Ashmolean Museum, founded in 1683, is an Art and Archaeology museum and the first public museum in Britain. This sprawling complex is two museums in the same location. Most visitors enter the Oxford University of Natural History first. It is home to the famous Dodo.
Inside this light-filled Neo-Gothic building, visitors wander through rows of glass-enclosed cases with unique displays of creatures from all over the world. Pitts River Museum is behind the Oxford Museum of Natural History. Founded in 1884, it is dedicated to anthropology and includes the collection of General Pitt-Rivers.
The University of Oxford Botanical Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. Founded in 1621, early on, it grew medicinal plants.
Other musts for Oxford include river punting. Oxford offers travelers a culture-rich getaway paired with the vibrancy of a college town. While in Oxford, take in one of its pubs, oozing English cozy vibes.
It is 59 miles (94 km) from Central London.
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Stonehenge
Some places grab your attention in childhood; for me, it was Stonehenge. On my first trip to England years ago, I couldn’t make it happen. Without a rental car, it is not that easy to visit (outside of the group tour). It is one of the Best Day Trips from London.
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic rock structure on the Salisbury Plain. It is one of many; however, it is the most famous. Starting in 3100 BCE, construction continued until 1600 BCE.
Stonehenge includes a ring of Sarsen stones standing upright, each around 13 feet (4.0 m) high, seven feet (2.1 m) wide, and weighing around 25 tons each. Some stones are topped with lintels. Inside the outer ring is a smaller ring of Bluestone.
From the parking and the visitor center, there is a Stonehenge exhibition and Neolithic houses to explore. From the Visitor Center, there is a shuttle bus to the stone circle. I recommend this since the walk is about a mile. During bank holidays and weekends, expect a wait for the shuttle.
If you visit around the time of the Summer Solstice, like I did, you might see a processional, reserved for groups that consider Stonehenge significant. The stones are placed to align with sunrise on the solstices. The monument is closed to the general public on the solstice.
Located at Stonehenge, Salisbury SP4 7DE. Adult admission starts at £25.90, and youth (5 to 17) starts at £16.30, with demand pricing. Parking is £3 additional, payable on location and by an app. The drive to Stonehenge from Oxford is about an hour and 45 minutes. It is 88 miles (141 km) from Central London.
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Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a medieval market town in England’s West Midlands on the River Avon, the northernmost part of The Cotswolds. With its medieval buildings and quaint streets, it’s one of the top day trips from London.
Stratford-upon-Avon is the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare, and visitors can tour his birthplace. The Anne Hathaway Cottage is a beautiful 500-year-old cottage, and the home of Shakespeare’s bride. New Place is another spot.
He is buried in the Holy Trinity Church. For readers, take a Shakespeare Tour. If visiting several of the Shakespeare Family homes, consider a group ticket.
The Royal Shakespeare Company resides at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a Grade II-listed building. River cruises are another must.
Warwick Castle is a medieval castle developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. There, visitors can tour the castle or attend seasonal events.
Stratford-upon-Avon is located 91 miles (146 km) north-west of London.
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Windsor Castle
About an hour away from Central London, Windsor Castle is a must for royal watchers. It is one of the easier London Day trips.
Construction started in 1070; Windsor Castle is the longest-occupied and largest castle in the world. William the Conquer started Windsor Castle, and it has been used by every reigning monarch since, 70 in total.
Windsor Castle was a favorite residence for Queen Elizabeth II, Henry VIII and Victoria. I used it extensively for diplomatic purposes. Windsor Castle has withstood sieges, the WWII bombing and the 1992 fire, and all damages were repaired after each.
Its architecture is Georgian and Victorian, with each monarch changing with the style at the time, though the structure remains Medieval. The exterior is imposing as visitors move through the public spaces like the King Henry VIII Gate and the Round Tower.
Top Things to Do at Windsor Castle
Top things to do at Windsor Castle include viewing the State Apartments, some of the most highly decorated in Europe. Each includes gold-leaf Rococo furnishings, upholstered in silk brocade, gold-leaf moldings on the ceiling and the walls, opulent crystal chandeliers and large-scale art and tapestries.
Visitors walk through a series of State Apartments with an audio guide pointing out the highlights, including information on the restoration after the fire. During the tour, I saw priceless art objects like the Russian malachite urn, presented to Queen Victoria by Tsar Nicholas I in 1839.
Another popular exhibit is the Queen Mary’s Dollhouse, built between 1921 and 1924. It features the work of over 1,500 artisans in the UK and includes running water and moving parts. A fully furnished replica, it is a delight and worth the wait if there is a queue.
Another must on your visit is touring Saint George’s Chapel, construction began in 1475. It has hosted many royal weddings, like HRH Princess Eugenie and Mr. Jack Brooksbank. It is also the final resting place of Kings and Queens, like King Henry VIII and, most recently, Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II
Windsor Castle was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. She spent much time at the Castle, especially in her final years.
One of the most poignant moments of her funeral was the processional up the Long Walk with her favorite horse bowing and her corgis meeting her for one final time. I queued up to view the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II in the King George VI Memorial Chapel to pay my respects.
As an American, I didn’t realize how much she represented England to me for most of my life. I didn’t realize how her reign imprinted on the world as a whole, especially as a feminine head of state.
In her final years, I appreciated how lucky I was to live during the reign of a feminine queen, like her predecessors, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria. Each of their reigns was immensely influential and far-reaching.
Paying respects was an important part of my recent trip to England, as I visited several Royal residences. I was amazed at how much England truly adored their Queen, and she is held in the highest regard through working in the royal castles and palaces.
How to Get There
Located at Windsor SL4 1NJ. Adult admission starts at £30.00, young adults(18 to 24) are £19.50, kids (5 to 17) are £15. Advance reservations are required most times of the year, and you enjoy lower admission prices. I visited on the day that I was near Heathrow Airport for convenience. It is 12 miles (19 km) from the airport. There is no official parking at Windsor Castle, so you need to find a public parking lot nearby. You can also take the train or a coach service to Windsor Castle from Central London. Visitors will find places to eat at the castle as well as gift shops. It is 24 miles (38 km) from Central London.
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